fate depends on want
Kav almost slept in the pitiful shade of dead date trees, still half-awake and delirious from the lack of proper nutrients. She had lost mother. It was careless of her to not keep an eye on the white-nosed mare every second of every day, and she had been foolish enough to leave mother alone to explore a batch of rocks. She had learned her lesson. Mother was not to be trusted to not run away when left alone. As soon as Kav found her, mother would be under constant supervision. She didn't know why mother would leave but it seemed the only solution would be to never let her out of her sight. Until the bay filly was big enough chase after her, at least.
These thoughts circled in her head as the day dragged on. Her eyes were cracked open just enough to see the shape of a horse approach, and she weakly lifted her head to observe the figure. Colors swam in her vision but she could see the black and white of the mare's coat. "Mama?" she croaked. A part of her mind nagged her to focus her eyes to see how much more white had covered mother, and she sighed in disappointment. Mother knew she would start to turn white if she stayed out in sunlight for too long, and it was evident that she hadn't been in the shade enough to keep her black coat safe. Kav had made the same mistakes, but it seemed mother hadn't learned her lesson.
But Kav wasn't about to lecture mother in her condition. She shakily got her legs under her, and stood stably enough to take a few hesitant steps towards her mother. "Mama, where did you go?" It hurt to talk, and she knew her voice must sound scratchy and unhealthy. She had been drinking water but it wasn't nearly as palatable as milk. "Mama," she took another step towards mother, head lifted as high as she could to look hopefully at mother's black and white face.
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